If you have ever experienced a washing machine locking up on you, you may have been left wondering why it got locked.

After all, you expect it to open and close anytime you press a particular button.

Well, let’s find out why your washer’s door may lock.

Washing machines don’t lock by chance. Your washer will only lock as a response to an issue it has detected.

The door on a washer may be locked as a safety action by your washer or as a result of a fault.

Here are some reasons why washing machines lock:

• Overloading the washer
• Clogged drain hose
• Faulty door latch
• Faulty lid lock
• Faulty pressure switch

In this article, we’ll explore 5 possible reasons why your washing machine might lock up, and what you can do to fix them.

So if you’re ready to learn more about why washing machines lock, read on!

Why do washing machines lock?

Washing machines have lid locks that lock the lid into place and prevent it from being able to open during a wash cycle. This interlocking feature is a safety feature that is there to prevent any possible dangers when you are using your washing machine.

On a normal cycle, your washing machining door locks once you have started a wash cycle and automatically unlocks after the cycle is complete.

However, your washing machine door gets locked at a time when it is not supposed to.

For instance, it is possible to lock preventing you from starting your cycle in the first place.

Or you may have finished your laundry and the door refuses to unlock.

Below are the 5 reasons why your washing machine door locks when it wasn’t supposed to:

1. Overloading the washer

One of the most common reasons for a washing machine to lock up is because it’s been overloaded.

When too many clothes are crammed into your washer, it may have problems draining all the water out in order for your washer to detect and open the lock.

The interlocks on your washer are designed such that they will only open after water is drained from your washer either by draining or by spinning.

So if your washing machine is not able to drain out all the water due to it being overloaded, the door will remain locked.

Troubleshooting

1. Run a drain and spin cycle to drain the water
2. You can also drain the water by placing the washer’s drain hose lower than the drum and allowing water to drain out into a pan or bucket.
3. To avoid overloading your machine, consult your owner’s manual to find out how many clothes it can safely handle.

2. Clogged drain hose

It may be that your washing machine drain hose may be clogged by lint or other foreign materials.

When this happens, water is not able to drain from your washer. It may only drain at a very slow pace.

As a response, your washing machine’s door will remain locked till the water has drained.

Troubleshooting

You need to unclog the drain hose by using a wire or plumbing snake to push out any debris and blockages that may have clogged the drain.

In addition, you can pour hot water or any drain cleaning solution down the drain hose to clear every debris left in there.

3. Faulty door latch

Your washing machine may not have a problem with drainage but the door latch may be broken.

If the door latch on your washing machine is broken or damaged, it can cause the machine to remain locked since it will still be holding the door lock in place.

To fix this problem, you’ll need to replace the door latch with a new one.

Troubleshooting

How to replace the door latch of your washing machine

First, you need to identify the type of door latch that is fitted to your washing machine.

There are two types of door latches – a push-button release or a screw-type release.

Once you have identified the type of door latch, follow these steps:

Push-button release

1. Unscrew the two screws that hold the door catch in place.
2. Gently pull the old door catch away from the machine and insert the new one.
3. Screw it back in place.

Screw-type release

1. Unscrew the single screw that holds the door catch in place.
2. Gently pull the old door catch away from the machine and insert the new one.
3. Screw it back in place.
4. Replace the top of your washing machine by screwing it back on.
5. Test the new door latch by closing the door and trying to open it using the manual release catch.

4. Faulty Pressure switch

The pressure switch is the component of a washing machine that detects the amount of water in the drum.

It can be located at the top of your washer.

It works by sending signals to the control panel about how full or empty the drum is.

For instance, after a wash cycle has ended, the control panel instructs you washer to drain.

It is the pressure switch that will signal the control panel after the drum has been completely emptied so the spin cycle can begin.

That means that when the pressure switch is not working, the control panel cannot detect that the washer has drained and will keep the door locked.

Troubleshooting

Sometimes, the pressure switch may just need a reset, especially if you have moved your washer for some reason.

You can reset the pressure switch by putting 2 liters of water into the drum and setting the washer to drain. This action will reset the pressure switch automatically.

Sometimes, the interlock may be heated which is causing the pressure switch to malfunction.

You can turn off your washing machine power supply for a few minutes to allow it to cool down then you will be able to open the door.

If you still face problems, you can always call a technician to assist.

5. Faulty lid lock

The door interlock is the main door lock feature on the washing machine.

It locks when the cycle starts and unlocks after a while when the cycle stops.

It usually delays a little after the cycle ends as a safety feature since the drum doesn’t stop immediately after the cycle ends.

The door lock has an electronic component that uses a heating and cooling mechanism to open the lock and close the washing machine respectfully.

It is possible that the door lock developed a fault after it had locked, and this will cause the washing machine to remain locked.

Troubleshooting

In other to temporally open your washer after draining it, Check your washing machine user manual as there will be a method to bypass the lock.

How to manually open the door of your washing machine

Sometimes you may be left with the only option to manually open your washing machine door.

You can open a locked door using any of these methods:

Method One

1. Find the manual door release catch.
2. The manual door release catch is usually a small hole located near the bottom of the washing machine door.
3. Insert a paper clip or similar object into the hole and push.
4. The door should now open.

Method Two

1. Put a wire or string strimmer line around the edge of the door of your washing machine.
2. Gently but firmly pull the wire or line sideways towards the handle to release the door latch.
3. Open the door.

Method Three

1. Open the top of your washing machine by unscrewing it using a screwdriver.
2. Lift it off the machine.
3. You can now access the back of the door latch.
4. Push on the tip of the latch to release it using a flat screwdriver or your fingers.

Conclusion

These are some of the most common reasons why your washing machine might lock up.

If you’re having trouble with your machine, consult your owner’s manual or contact a qualified repair person for help.

And remember, to avoid problems in the future, be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions for using and caring for your machine.

References:

Open locked washing machine

Fix washer lid